Cigarette rod condition measuring and indicating



Jam 26, 1954 w. c. BROEKHUYSEN ET AL 2,657,172

CIGARETTE ROD CONDITION MEASURING AND INDICATING Filed Aug. 2l, 1946 4 Sheet's-Sheet l Jan- 26, 1954 w. c. BRoEKHUYsEN ET AL 2,667,172

CIGARETTE ROD CONDITION MEASURING AND INDICATING Filed Aug. 21, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 2 AMPLITUDE BALANCE -PHAsE EALANcE n ATTENuAToR 225 1o 9 8 T 4 STAGE s AMPLIFIER 5 AND L 4 nEMonuLAToR l 3 /54 SHIELD 2 I1 voLTAsE sTAa|L|zEo L *Y osclLLAToR H /26 /G .ZA ,W FILAMENT 60A', AND PLATE 300 V-D.G

SUPPLY X7 |2.e v. FIL.

4 STAGE 9 AMPLIFIER Ann f nEMonuLAToR r INVENToRs WILLIAM C. BROEKHUYSEN JAMES W. WARREN ATTORNEY Jam 26, l954 w. c. BRoEKHUYsx-:N ET AL 2,667,172

CIGARETTE ROD CONDITION MEASURING AND INDICATING Filed Aug. 2l, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 /fgd g/t2l 73 77 /zzoD 6566 70 7g4 6l R6 B D G. 3

FIG. 4 FIG. 5

E 79 2 4\ 99 8] n 9] jaa 63 VJ I@ 90 39 94 93 26 P 22 78 262D j" '60 i F1526 Y mehr F|G.8

INVENTORS WILLIAM c.BRoEKHuYsEN BY JAMES w.wARREN ATTORNEY Jan- 26, 19,54 w. c. BROEKHUYSEN ET AL 2,657,172

CIGARETTE ROD CONDITION MEASURING AND INDICATING Filed Aug. 21, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS WILLIAM C. BROEKHUYSEN JAMES W. WAR EN ATTORNEY Y Patented Jan. 26, r1954 CIGARETTE ROD cormrrIoN` MEASURING AND IN DICATIN G William C. Broekhuysen,

W. Warren, New Yor Garden City, and James k, N. Y.,fassignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 21, 1946, serial No. 692,062

(o1. 1er-21) 32 Claims.

This invention relates to cigarette making machinery and, more particularly, to measuring and indicating mechanism which will automatically determine the physical uniformity of the stream or rod of cigarette tobacco formed in a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, as shown herein. Y

Cigarette manufacturers have, f'or some time, been desirous of forming cigarettes of more uniform weight, density and draw. One of the problems in achieving this aim has been the fact that there vis a certain amount of variation in the weight of cigarettes produced by a cigarette machine that, as yet, has not been entirely eliminated.

For example, if a machine is adjusted to make cigarettes having a mean weight of 27 to the ounce, the cigarettes produced will usually vary from 24 to 30 to the ounce. A cigarette weighing to the ounce is ordinarily regarded as too light to be -marketable Therefore, to avoid making cigarettes which are too light, the manufacturer has rto adjust the machine to produce cigarettes weighing 26 to the ounce even though this may produce a cigarette which, for the type of tobacco being used,.is too heavy and does not have the same desirable drawing features as cigarettes having a mean weight of 27 to the ounce.L Also, there is a certain amount of waste in making over-lled cigarettes which is not to the interest of either the public or the cigarette manufacturer.

Although the present invention does not eliminate entirely the weight variation mentioned, it has for one of its objects to provide a novel device and method whereby the variation can be decreased to the extent that most of 'the undesirable consequences, heretofore resulting from the variations, have been either eliminated or materially reduced.

Another object is to provide strain gage mechanism to register the amount of strain exerted against the diierent parts of the rod forming mechanism so that anadjuster can determine quickly which part of the rod forming mechanism is not functioning properly.

Another `object is to provide a device which can be used to test improvements in the tongue and guide linel` construction and design to ascertain how satisfactorily they compress moving streams of tobacco.

A further object of this invention is to provide detecting mechanism which, by measuring the force exerted on the compressing device, ascertains any change that takes place ina tobacco CIK of the tobacco stream under invention progresses.

y stream that is being compressed and formed into t a cigarette rod.

Another object is to provide strain gage mechanism which will register the vertical, lateral and longitudinal pressures exerted against the rod forming mechanism of a cigarette machine.

Another object is to provide strain gage mechanism to measure the lateral pressure of tobacco against the sides of the channel before the entry the rod forming tongue. t

A` further object is to provide strain gage mechanism which will register the vertical pressure of the tobacco rod at the tip of the tongue,

-fat which point the tobacco rod undergoes its maximum compression.

Another object is to provide a series of strain gages, interposed along the stream of cigarette tobacco from the point at which compression is -fbegun to the point of maximum compression,

which will provide a series of measurements showing how the Various compressing elements are acting on the rod throughout its length.

A further object is to provide a strain gage mechanism which will control the operation of a cigarette ejector to remove defective cigarettes having plugs and holes, or cigarettes which 'are extremely light or heavy.

A further object is to provide strain gage mechanism, associated with the rod forming mechanism of a cigarette machine, to regulate the rate at which tobacco is fed to the rod forming mechanism of the cigarette machine.

Another object is to provide a method of manufacturing cigarettes which will result in the production of cigarettes of more uniform density.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of a cigarette machine showing the rod forming tongue and strain gages mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a schematic plan View of the cigarette machine showing the rod forming tongue and strain gages mounted thereon.

Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view taken on line ZA-ZA of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged (partial) front elevation of the rod forming tongue with a portion lof the strain gage cover plate broken away to 3 illustrate the mounting for one of the strain gages.

Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 showing the metal plate supporting the strain gage.

Figure 7 is a sectional end elevation takenron the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 constitutes a conventional Wheatstone bridge circuit.

Figure 10 shows a suitable circuit for amplifying and detecting a change in balancein a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

Figure 11 illustrates suitable apparatus for controlling the rate of feed of a cigarette making machine by the output of a Vtheatstone bridge.

Figure 12 is a partial. end elevation of thecigarette machine illustrating suitable mechanism for ejecting cigarettes.

Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the magnetic strain gage.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings,

tobacco S isk showered into a chute (not shown) onto a traveling conveyor belt I in a manner similar to that shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,283,394`

dated May 19, 1942 issued to Mr. E. D. Smith. The traveling belt I travels in the direction indicated by the arrow over idler rollers 2` and 3. Thek showered tobacco T, carried by the conveyor belt I, is forwarded and compressed between the stationary tobacco guide liners 4 and 5 and the short conveyor belt 6. The short conveyor belt 5 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow over drive pulley 'I and take-up rollerA 8 and` then over idler rollers 3, I0, II, and l2. The drive pulley 1 is driven by suitable means (not shown) from the` main drivev of the cigarette machine. A short. belt guide I3 acts to hold the belt free from lateral movement.

The tobacco guide liners 4 and. 5 are xedly connected. by means of suitable clamp screws I4, I5, and IB to tobacco guide supports I1 and I3 respectively. The rear tobacco guide support II is secured to the frame Fr of the machine by suitable means, such as clamp bolt.2I1. The

front tobacco guide support Ilis removably secured to the frame F of the` machineby means of locking clamps I9 and 20 engaging with. suitable slots of studs I9a and 23a respectively, projecting from said frame portion of the machine.`

After the tobacco stream T has been forwarded by the conveyor belt I to a position adjoining idler roller 3, it is deposited onto a continuous' traveling cigarette paper tape P, where itv undergoes further compression between the short conveyor belt 6, paper P and the ends 32 and 33 of tobacco guide liners 4 and 5. The paper tape P travels in the direction indicated by the' arrow and is forwarded over guide roller onto thev folder belt 28.- The folder belt 23, whichsupports and forwards the tobacco carrying paper tape P through the cigarette machine, is driven by drive wheel 21. The drive wheel 21 is driven in the direction indicated' by the arrow by suitable means from the main shaft (not shown)` of the cigarette machine. The folder belt 26 travels over idler rollers 28, 23, and 30. A corrventional spring actuated take-up roller 3| is' provided to hold the folder belt Mi` underthe de- IISv sired amount of tension. The entire folding unit described above is supported on the bed 22 of the cigarette making machine.

The tobacco guide liners 4 and 5 are resiliently constructed so that the distance between the converging ends 32 and 33 can be adjusted. The end 33 of the guide.V liner 5 is adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 34 which is threaded through the front tobacco guide support I8. A lockingv nut 35 is provided for locking the adjus'tingl screw' 3'4 in place once the adjustment .has been made. The end 32 of tobacco guide liner Lean( be adjusted by means of the coneshaped plunger 36 which is slidably mounted in boss 3l. Anadjusti'ng screw 38, having a coneshaped tip 39', is' threaded through the frame F of. the cigarette machine and is slidably supported in the boss 40.

By turning the adjusting screw 33, the cone 33 slidably engaging with the cone-shaped plunger 36', will cause the' cone-shapedpluriger 36 to slide longitudinally in its mounting 311mV apply more or less pressure on the tobaccol guider;-

Since the ends 32 and. 33V of the tcl-- liner 32. bacco guide liners 4 and 5Y are-resilient,l they apply an outward thrust` on the cone-shaped plunger 36 and the adjusting screw 34. The

justing screw 38 is locked ink position by means of lock nut 4I.

The tobacco guide liners` 32. andy 33- have arms 42 and 43 formed thereon. which project laterallyfy and outwardly from each of' the tobacco guide:

liners 32 and 33. Flexible strain gage supports 44 and 45 are connected atone end to eachfof;

the projecting arms 42 and 43 by means of screws:

te and 4l. The strain gage support consistsof suitable material having a relatively low modulus,` of elasticity, a relatively high elastic. limit and;

a high tensile strength. Examples of material'Y suitable for this purpose are Phosphor. bronze,

spring brass andl beryllium copper. posite end of eachy of the flexible strain gagef supports 44 and 45 is connected to the rear to.: bacco guide support I1 and the front tobacco guide support I8- respectively.

An active and a dummy wire resistance* type strain gage 44a, 44h, 45a, and 45D, of the-type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,292,549 datedAugust, 11, 1942 issued to Mr. E. E. Simmons,- Jr. are` 50; mounted on each of the supports: 44 and 45..;.

The active and dummygages form the adjoin-4 ing arms GI and G2 of a conventional: Wheat-f stone bridge such as shownin Figure 9.

The` Wheatstone bridge shown in Figurel gis.` of conventional design wherein the.V two resistl ance arms identied by the symbols Rt` and R111` are equal vand xed and the twoarms. identi-` iiedby the symbolsl GI and G2 are the strainI gagev resistances placed inthe bridge. Y Since the resistance of the strain gages arelthe same, the` bridge will be in balance whenA no strai-nis exerted on the strain gage filaments' GI and G2. A source of alternating voltage is applied tothev terminals marked Bland D. When the cigarettes` making machine is in operation the resistance of strain gage filaments GI and, G2 will vary` rapidly in accordance with the strainv exerted by the traveling stream of cigarette tobacco. The: output terminals AV and C of a Wheatstonel bridge can be connected after suitable amplification` tof the Recording Oscillcgraph RU. Since theV `various strain gages mentioned in Athis application are connected ina similar manner; refer-- ence will bemade for purposes. of-,simp'licity' tof this Figure 9 in all 4cases tov describe howthese The op.- i

'various connections in a Wheatstone bridge are made in each instance.

The active gage 44a is mounted on support 44so that the axis of the filament wires, making up the gage, lies parallel to the direction in which force is exerted on the support 44. The dummy gage 442'), on the other hand, is mounted so that the axis of the filament wires comprising the gage is transverse to the direction in which force is applied to the support 44. The dummy gage 44h will, therefore, not be affected by any forcetexerted onv the support 44 but will reflect temperature changes that occur in the support in the same manner as active gage 44a.. This feature provides Vfor an accurate functioning of the measuring device disclosed because both gages form the adjoining arms GI and G2 of the'. Wheatstone bridge, and a change in temperature will aiect both gages equally and con-g sequently temperature changes will not affect the functioning of the Wheatstone bridge.. The

other support 45 also has an active and dummy resistance wire strain gage similarly mounted thereon which is connected to a Wheatstone bridge in a similar manner.

It will be noted that the amount of outward or lateral force exerted by the tobacco T traveling between the ends 32 and 33 of the tobacco guide liners 4 and 5 will be registered by means of the active strain gages 44a and 45a mounted on the strain gage supports 44 and 45 (Fig. 2). Suitable covers 48 and 49 are provided over each of the strain gage mountings. Three conventional wire connecting lugs vare attached to each cover 46 and 49. Y

Inasmuch as the active and dummy gages 44a and 44o mounted on support 44, form the adj cining arms of a Wheatstone bridge, the end of one wire from each of these gages are joined together at the connecting lug III which corresponds to the position B of a Wheatstone bridge such as shown in Figure 9. The end of the other wire from each of these gages is connected to lugs I IU and H2 respectively Which corresponds to the positions C and A of a Wheatstone bridge such as shown in Figure 9. The active and dummy gages 45a and 45h, mounted on support 45, also form the adjoining arms GI and G2 (Fig. 9) of a Wheatstone bridge. One end of the wires from each of these gages are, therefore, joined tovn gether at connecting lug H4 which corresponds to therposition marked B of a Wheatstone bridge such as shown in Figure 9. The other end of the wire from each of these gages is connected to lugs H3 and H5 respectively, which corresponds to the positions C and A of a Wheatstone bridge. Suitable wires IIIIa to H5a lead from each of the connecting lugs H to H5 to a Recording Unit shownin Figure 1.

Wires I Illa, IIIa, and H2a from strain gages 44a. and 44h are connected respectively to Wires |56, |52, and |54 shown in Figure 10. When strain gages 45a and 45h are connected to the RecordingV Unit, wires H3a, II4a, and |I5a would be connected respectively to wires |56, |52, and |54 (Fig. 10). The wires from strain gages shown in Figures l, 2, and 3 are similarly connected to the circuit diagram shown in Figure 10.

After the tobacco has passed betweenthe ends 32 and 33 of the tobacco guide liners 4 and 5, it passes under a tongue 6E) which compacts the tobacco in the usual manner. The tongue 60 is provided with four vertically extending lugs 6I, 62, 63, and 64 (Figure 3). A strain gage vsupport 65,-made of a material similar to that of supports 44 and 45, is secured at ie end to lug 62 Yby means of screw A66 and, at the other end, is secured to tongue support 69 by means of screw 10.

Another strain gage support 6'I (Fig. 3), also made oimaterial similar to that of supports 44 and 45, is secured at one end to lug 63 by means I of screw 68; and the. other end is secured to tongue support 69 by means of screw 1I. It will be noted that' a portion of Figure 3 has been broken away tov illustrate how the gage support 67 is mounted. Each of the strain gage supports 65 and 6l has a suitable cover 'I2 `and I3 (see Figs. 1 and 3).

Suitable resistance wire type strain gages I I6 and |I6a (Fig. 3), such as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,292,549 dated August 11, 1942 issued to Mr.

E. E. Simmons, Jr., are mounted on each of theterial degree with the vertical movement of the tongue 60 which is measured by other means hereinafter described.

The strain gages I I6 and I |611 are mounted on their respective supports so that the axis of the iilament wires, making up these gageslies parallel to the direction in which force is applied to the supports 65 and 61. Inasmuch as any longi-y tudinal strain exerted on the tongue 6U by the tobacco passing thereunder will result in equal and opposite forces being applied to the gage supports 65 and 61 because of the manner in which they are mounted, it is not necessary to mount any dummy gages on these supports. In this connection it will be noted that movement of the tobacco T under the tongue 60 will result inv longitudinal pressures being exerted against the tongue 60. These pressures will be reflected in a shortening of strain gage support 61 and a stretching strain being exerted on strain gage support 65. Member 69 is held in fixed position in relation to the frame of the machine by means of Ythe clamping screw |03. dummy gages, gages H6 and I I6a can be connected as adjacent arms GI and G2 in a Wheatstone bridge circuit such as that shown in Figure 9.

Since both gages IIB and Hia are associated with the tongue 60, temperature changes in the tongue will affect both gages in a similar manner. Consequently temperature changes will not aiTect the changes in resistance shown by the Wheatstone bridge because both gages II 6 and H6a form the adjacent arms GI and G2 of the Wheatstone bridge (Fig. 9). Since the forces exerted on the strain gages H6 and H6a Willbe equal and opposite, the changes in resistance of gages GI and G2 will be additive.

Cover I3 has three conventional wire connecting lugs H1, H8, and H9 formed thereon. One end of the wire from each of the active gages I I 6 and I IIia` are joined together at connecting lug I I8 which corresponds to position B of a conventional Wheatstone bridge such as shown in Figure 9. The other end `of the wire II'Ia from strain gage I|6a is connected to connecting lug II'I, while the other wire H9a from gage |I6 is connected to lug H9. The wires II'Ia, II 8a, and H9a lead from the lugs II'I, H8, and H9 to the Recording Unit shown in Figure 1.

Instead of using amava in l Al. bracket 1&- isz xedly mounted: om the: verti-` cally.v extending; lug: Gti. by, meansY ci a cianur-- screwY '1.5;4 flexible: vertical'. supporting. .platee 'Mb is connectedi at one'exid:l to` the bracket: T4f by means. of'. screws. 'Hi an'd; at the'. other; end is. connected; tovthe; tongue support GSfbyfmeansnof;

screws-,181. The opposite; endi'ofpt'he tongue 6.0 '1 alsorhas'a bracketlllfwhicn is mounted.on:verti..-

callyfextendingplug, 6:4 by means; of screw 18m; Ar

flexiblefvertical supportinggplate;v Bil madesof mai-- Y textiel-.ofi the-same? type. as that used. insupports t 46 and 46; ist connected; at one enda to bracket, 1.9l

by means of screws 82 and, at the other en'dds;

strain .placedf on .the tongue. at :this-point"` by; the;`

stream of tobacco thereunder.

The; active geen.A 84. is so.: rncuntedlthat thel longitudinal axis of. the.. filament.- wires.l making. up the gage arepositioned.- inra. direction which. is parallel..to .the direction in; which force 1 isap.- plied.rby;. the. tonguet. to the supporting plate 8|.. The. dummy. gage 85onthe. other hand, is mounted so.. .that the longitudinalV axis of` the lament .W-ireS. will. be transverse to .ther direction of the,..lines.of.. force applied. tothesupporting plate 8|.. same variations in. temperatureoithesupport 8| a.s.-the..active:` gageil, buttclianges-.in stress n support. 8| f. will .not affect. gage.

The active anddummystrain gages Miand' iormthe..adjoiningr armsC-I. and. G2' of af. conf ventional Wheatstone. bridge sucnas Vthat .shown in Figure. 9... One endof. the-wire. from cachot. thestrain. gages Tand 8.5,is joinedl together. as. shown in lIiigure 6 as Wire.. a. Suitable. wires desgnatedlas lilla, |2|a, and` |22aare..pr0vided for connecting strain. gages. 84.. and. B5.- to` the4 Recording Unitreferred to. herein.. l't.- will.. be appreciated that. in. practice it may. be.. desirable to provide a suitable Wire junction box, such as..

cover 12, .wherein sturdy lugsare provided. tosup port.I said. wiresf- |2llct;` |2|a, and: |22a,v but.` for.

purposes Ycil'illustrating the. invention, this has. I

notbeen. shownin thismanner because. theinv vention. caribe better. illustrated by. connectingA Wires .I Zea., l2` |a., and. LZZadirectly to` the.Record ing.. Unit. as shown in Figure. i.

Whilel. ity is notnecessary to construet.- thef tonguesupporting structure similar' to that shown. hereinto practicethe inventiondisclosed.

it should be remembered.- that. the.- natural frefquency, of..vibrationof the. rod forming mech anism, suchasa tongue, should not be permitted. to interfere, or. superimpose. itself. on. the recordf ings. ofi the. strain'. gage.

of the rodforming member in any` directionito. be so. low thatit.interferes` with. or detrimental.-

ly affects the formation. ofacigaretterod.' As-v The4 active. strain. gage Bbl The. dummyA1 gage. |15.-r Wil` register the` The. support. for the. rod' forming member should. also. besuch that. it'. 1 willinot causethe natural frequency. offvib'ration.

to theoverlapiedge'of `the paper tape.

applyingydevice may be. similar tothat-shownin. U. S. Patent No; 2,351,565issuedi'fto: Mr. J.

material it. is: mace off and chaman-mer un its;

i ectiy: abcve i the: tip the tongue: andffseparated magnetically' permeablet materiau. W111i changeEl the". inductancef. of?. the; com: It: tnei pressm'ar at:

the?. tip of: thef tonguef variesV or: remains; constam," the magnetic: gagetw il'lrecor diathe-variatierru or `the.:steady.state: of: pressure; l l

TheY wires-1. |23;f and |24 leadlf'rom kthe magnet-lc.:v

eager and aref connectedv tot contacts@ As and Bt showin in'. Figi.. I0;l Aa gagei off. substantiallyf their'V same? imp'edanceiandxpgower. factor'v as:y the: mage neti'c'v strain; gage im; inthia case. is connected;toty

contactsB and CiirFigi. 101.'H

The'` tongue f support 6.95 (Figa. 2.).` has: threeT late the lugs is mounted asuitable adjiustingscrewf 98,.eligen-d.;lilllhavingv suitable locky nuts for hold`lr ing; them; in position.` after. having' been' adjusted.:

The 'adjustingl screws-298;. 89;.and I llfengagewittf.

a xedr stationary portion of the Vcigarette "mai-f chine framet and. when'.y adjusted. properlyf poAv sitions` the tongue above the paper tapefB andi folder belt tape 2B; A` clampfarrnl |ll'|=,.pivotal1y'44 mounted to theframey of.' the: cigarette machinez: by means of i pivotn screwf m2,. carries'. af clamp."` screw |03 for holding the adjusting screws:` 98;.

99,` and.y |361andrthe'tongue-supportidownlover.the" beduithe cigarette machine- A After the continuous cigarette rod emergesfrom theJ tip of; the.; tongue:` 94;, it enters.` intofaa pasting; section .block where `-aconventional Lpaste Wheel l IM. applies paste: tothe.overlapfedge:ofi the paperztapefP." The `pastevfheel,,which is on erated by'suitable. means from theemairr drive of a` cigaretteI machine, ,rotates-.f andi applies paste:

Warren.- on-Junef13, 1944:. From there; thecig.- arette rod C, having; hadv paste applicato the i edge` of the paper tape,- passes. beneath suitable.v

sealing, and.` cutting mechanism (not showmf which cuts the rodf into cigarettes of. desired4 lengths.. If. desired, reference may' bernade to.-

on September 12, 1944A and` U.- S. PatentY No.. 1,888,774-issued ;to VM1'. R.` E'. Rundell. on i November22., 1932for a further. showing:- and=descrip tionof these parts.-

Each of the resistance wire ty-pestraingages ris cemented to..its.respective mounting. by va suit-i ablebonding agent; Aszmentioned herein, .U.S.. Patent` No. 2,292,549 may be referredto for aVV more detailedv description. of: the constructionA and f operation of. a.v resistance` wirei-type strain-fI gage.

When tobacco has. been deposited on .theicon-'f before described and register the amount of lat-k eral force of the continuous traveling tobacco stream against the ends 32 and of the guide liners 4 and 5. rhe strain gages ccnnected to the tongue are arranged so that they will register vertical forces as well as longitudinal forces exerted on the tongue 50 by the tobacco stream asfit passes beneath and is compressed by the tongue. The term register is used herein and in the appended claims is intended to be synonymous in meaning and scope with the word indicate and is intended to include within its definition the word recording The Wires from the various strain gages marked Ila, |||a, ||2a, lld. Illia, ||5a, lila, iisd, ||9a, l2a, 12m, |22a, i223, and |24 lead to conventional recording apparatus such vas a recording oscillograph, designated by the box marked Recording Unit. If desired, one oi several commercial Recording Units, such as that produced by Baldwin Southwark and known as the SR4 Strain Recorder or that produced by Gen- 10 nism for defective cigarettes, such as that shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,357,801 issued to Mr. C. Arelt on September 12, 1944. In such a case, the variations in pressure exerted against the rod forming member, such as the tongue |55, by defective cigarettes having holes, plugs, or being extra light or heavy,would cause variationsin eral Electric and known as lType Pil/142A oscillograph, can be used for observing or recording the forces exerted on the strain gages described herein. The Recording Unit receives current through wires |25 and |26 from a suitable source of supply and supplies current to the various strain gages which are connected to the Recording Unit.

The variation in electrical resistance of the f strain sensitive lament making up the strain gage may be determined by a usual Wheatstone bridge circuit such as shown in Figure 9, in which v the active strain gage iilament constitutes one arm as previously mentioned.

Since a cigarette machine usually operates at a'rather high rate of speed, a conventional strip or chart form of recorder is used in place of the usual galvanometer of a Wheatstone bridge.

Where a continuing record is not required, a

visible indicating device, such as an oscillograph, can be used in place of the usual galvanometer Yof a Wheatstone bridge. The chart form of recorder has the advantage of showing not only the present performance of the machine but also the past performance. This enables a trend to feed too little or too much tobacco to be readily detected and appropriate adjustments in the rod forming mechanism may be made immediately to facilitatethe formation of a cigarette rod of uniform density.

Where a particular part of the rod forming mechanism, as for example the tip of the tongue, is not operating properly, the strain gage will show large fluctuations in the amount of pressure being applied to the rod. The adjuster,

therefore, will not have to guess or resort to the trial and error method in order to ascertain which part of the rod forming mechanism is causing the formation of defective cigarettes; and he can go immediately to the source of trouble to remedy the defect in a minimum of time.

The invention is alsov exceptionally valuable for testing and comparing the performance of various designs of rod forming mechanism, such as a tongue, on different types of tobacco.

The measuring and indicating mechanism shown -described above can also be advantageously employed to operate an ejectng mechathe resistance of the strain gate which ,coacts with the rod forming mechanism. The strain gage would be part of a Wheatstone bridge circuit such as shown in Figure 10 and changes in the resistance of the strain gage would change the balanceof the Wheatstone bridge. Suitable means such as that shown in Figure 10 may be employed to amplify and detect this change of balance and made to operate a relay 225 in a manner broadly similar to that shown in Figure 1.2 and in U .S. Patent No. 2,357,801.

With reference to Figure 12 the ejecting mechanism is actuated by means of the relay 225 which corresponds with the relay 225 disclosed in Letters Patent 2,357,801. Said relay, when energized effects the setting and operation of a timing disc and indexing mechanism mounted in a housing |80. Said mechanism performs the same function and is of the same construction as the one disclosed in the above mentioned patent and is driven in synchronism with all other units of the cigarette machine by means of a shaft |82.

The indexing mechanism, through a chain |84 drives a sprocket |86 which is loosely mounted on a shaft |98 and to which is attached a gear |90 driving a gear |92. The gear |92 is mounted on a shaft |94 supported by an arm |96 which is pivotally attached to shaft |88 supported in a bearing bracket |98. The latter is secured to the main frame of the machine. The free end of shaft |24 carries a pair of ejector rods 20!) Which, when shaft |911 is driven, rotates in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 12. Arm |96 by means of a connecting rod 232 is connected to and oscillated by a suitable cam lever (not shown) which forms part of the indexing mechanism mentioned aboveA The individual cigarettes cut cfr" from the continuous cigarette rod C emerge from a suitable cut-olf (not shown) and are delivered and pushed through a guide channel 204 onto a continuously driven collector belt 205. The guide channel 204 is held by a bracket 208 adjustably attached to a lug 2|0 fastened to the frame of the cigarette machine.

rlhe machine is so timed and synchronized that the rotating ejector rods 200 are lowered byr connecting rod 202 and arm |96 into position to sweep oi the cigarettes delivered at that moment from `the guide channel 204 onto the collector belt 22S. The cigarette to be ejected is caught by the ejector rods 200 in midair and thrown into an ejector chute formed by a pair of guide plates 2|2 and 2 I4 which are adj ustably attached to the bearing bracket I 98.

In Figure 10 the external arms of the bridge GI and G2 constitute the active and dummy strainv gages referred to hereinbefore While the internal arms of the bridge consists of R5 and R?. A 5,000 cycle excitation supplied by a voltage stabilized oscillator is applied across the diagonal cornersB and D of the bridge. D is an electrical terminal corresponding to D; D' being internal and D being external. The differential output of the bridge circuit appears across the diagonal A to C and is applied through a step-up transformer T! and an attenuator to the four-stage amplier and demodulator, where it is amplied, rectified and filtered. The output of this unit is naamw `'l1 .a .D.'C. current which varies in :magnitude in accordance `with the ratio .of resistance -of G1 Tand G2.

` `conjunction with condenser Cl `provides for lphase-balancing the bridge circuit. Shunting a lknown resistor RS across arm R6 vby closing Aswitch OP, furnishes a means forcalibrating the sensitivity of the bridge circuit and amplifier. The'output of thedemodulator operates .the vmagnet 225 whenever the .strain registered by lthe strain gage exceeds certain predetermined limits.

The measuring and indicating mechanism employing a strain gage, shown and described above,

canlikewise'be employed to operate a feed ,con-

,trol-whichwould increaseor decrease the amount t of tobacco fed inaccordance with changes l.inthe `density of the cigarette `rod being formed. In

-such a case, the strain gage 4would-be` connected to a Vbridge circuit suchlas that described in the preceding paragraphs. rlihe output of the demodulator referred to above would `be connected to an `indicating meter `as `shown in Figure 11 which, in turn, would be used to actuate a con- .trol device in a `manner broadly similar to Vthat shown inUfS. PatentNa 1,864,728 issued .to Mr.

W. J. Hawkins `et al.on June 28, 1932. Thismay be `accomplished `by .mounting .the contact .arm 28a `of the `Hawkins patent -on the shaft 24a .of theindicating meter. The movement of 'the f `shaft INa of the indicating :meter controls the fmovement of the-contact arm 28a.

The `.movement -of contact arm 28a-causesfthe Reeves drive -controltlica through segments 30a, to rotate in-v one direction or -the other causing the -Reeves drive Sla-.to increase or decrease the speed of the feedinglapparatus V53a of the cigarette `making machine. If desired, reference may be .made rtosaid Hawkins 1patentfor a more Vde- `tailed Vdescription of `the Jmanner in which said ffeed control operates.

The invention above Adescribed Vmay be varied inconstructions within the'scope of the claims,

for `the particular .device selected to illustrate the invention is but one fof many possible em- -bodiments of `the same. Theinvention, 4there- `fore, is not `to be restricted to the precise details -`oi? l.the structure-shown and described.

What isclaimed is: 1. In a ycigarette making machine for forming a stream `of cigarette' tobacco into a cigaretterOd,

:means for forwarding a stream 'of tobacco along la .predetermined path, Aan elongated tongue .for 4compressing theltobacco stream as itisforwarded along said predetermined path, `spaced vertical and "horizontal `simpel-ts f or providing a oating mounting vfor .said tonguewhile maintaining said ltongue substantially rigid, said supports including horizontalsupports arranged so .that one of 4said horizontal supports will be compressed when the other is stretched when the tongue, under Athe action of the .cigarette rod, is moved longitudinally, `electrical resistance wire type stra-in gages mounted on the horizontal spaced supports,

aWheatstonebridge circuit including said .gages for vyielding an additive output vas a result of the a .stream `of :cigarette :tobacco finto a `cigarette rod, means for forwarding a .stream of tobacco along apredeterminedfpath, anelongatedtongue for compressing the `tobacco streamasitiis forwarded .along said predeterminedpath, a pairiof horizontally and rectilinearly varranged supports for supporting said tongue, the forward end=ot one of said spaced supports being xedly connected to the frame of the cigarette making machine and lwith its rear end `connected tosthe tongue, and the rear end .of the other .of :said spaced supports being xedly connected :.to Athe .frame and with 4its forward end lconnectedeto the tongue in such a way that the forward `movement of the tongue will simultaneously icause a stretching action on one support and a `contracting action on the othersupport, said supports being `made of a material having .a .relatively low modulus of elasticity, a relatively .high .elastic Vliinit and a high tensile strength, an electrical `resistance wirertyperstrain gage attachedf'tofeach of .said supports, a Wheatstone bridge inwhich .said strain gages form the adjacent arms nof'isaid bridge to .effect an additiveoutput'from the bridge as the result of motion of the cigarette rod'under the tongue, and a device actuated .by the outputofsaid bridge.

3. In a cigarette making machine 4for forming :a stream oi cigarette tobaccointo a-cigarette rod. means for forwarding a stream of .-tobaccofalong a predetermined path, anlelongated tongue Afor compressing the tobacco stream as it forwarded along said predetermined path, .:a hpair of vertically arranged supports centeredtoverfthe longitudinal Aaxis of said `tongue :for suspending said tongue at a :predetermined 'distancegabove said Vtobacco stream so as to `effect a :compression thereof, an 4'electrical resistance vwire ytype ystrain gage mounted-,anche of said supports rfso that the contraction ,andfexpansionfof said'support due tothe .upland down movement ofasaid .tongue will Yaffect the resistance -of said gage, .a second electrical resistance -wire l.type fstrain 4gage mountedon said supports infsuch a manner that :temperature changesof thesupport willaf- :feet the .resistance of said gagebut the stretching Yand contraction ofisaidlsupportfwill not `af- Iect .said latter gage, a -Wheatstone bridge in 4which .said .strain gages rform the adjacent :arms of said bridge, and a ydevice .actuated-by the-.outputof said-bridge.

4, In acigarettemaking machine-having means .for Vforwarding astream of tobacco alonga gpre- ,determined path, mechanism for restricting Yand .compacting the tobaccostreamas it is forwarded along said predetermined path of travel, and a plurality of .electricalstrain gages connected to said mechanism and positioned indifferentplanes extending through ythe axisof said stream .to separately ,detect .the longitudinal, vertical, and lateral amounts of pressure exerted by the; stream of tobacco on `the restricting .and compactingmechanism as it passes .by said restricting and compacting mechanism.

5. The method 4,of ,making cigarettes `of uni- Vform density which consists in forwarding a stream of .showered .tobacco along a predetermined path of travel, compressing said tobacco it is forwarded along saidpredetermined path of travel vinto a Acigarette rod, translating the `amount of physical compressing Vforce exerted on the tobacco .into electrical current, severing said rod .into cigarette lengths and .thenejecting `any y cigarette lengths ,that produce .an zabnor-mal flow .otelectricalcurrent 13 6. In a cigarette making machine having a frame, means for forwarding a stream of tobacco along a predetermined path, a tobacco compressing member having a mounting in said frame to maintain said member free from appreciable movement while reducing the cross sectional area o1 the tobacco stream as it is forwarded along said predetermined path of travel, and an electrical strain gage connected to said mounting lfor measuring the amount of non-appreciable movement of said member and thereby the pressure exerted by the tobacco stream on said member in being reduced in cross sectional area.

7. In a continuous rod cigarette machine, the combination with a channel along which a continuous stream of shredded cigarette tobacco is forwarded, a cigarette rod forming member associated with said channel for compacting tcbacco passing along said channel, an electrical resistance wire type strain gage mounted on said cigarette rod forming member for measuring the pressure exerted by saidv shredded tobacco against the cigarette rod forming member as it is compacted, and means connected to dicating the amount of pressure the rod forming member.

8. In a cigarette machine along which a continuous stream of shredded cigarette tobacco is forwarded, a cigarette rod forming tongue, a member having a low modulus of elasticity for supporting said tongue, and an electrical resistance wire strain gage mechanism connected with said member for measuring the amount of strain exerted on said member by the rod forming tongue.

9. A continuous cigarette rod making machine having a tongue for compressing a continuous stream of tobacco being formed into a cigarette rod by said machine, a floating support for mounting said tongue on said machine to compress said stream of tobacco, and an electrical said gage for inexerted against .strain gage device' secured to said oating suphaving a channel tobacco stream travels;

port for indicating the pressure exerted on said tongue by the tobacco undergoing compression by the tongue.

10. A cigarette making machine, having a frame, a supporting means dening a conned path along which tobacco is forwarded in a continuous stream tobacco compressing mechanism associated with said path for compressing tobacco as it is forwarded along said path, a strain gage support interconnecting said compressing mechanism with the frame so that forces exerted on the mechanism will be along the axis of said support,rand a resistance wire type strain gage mounted on said supporting means for measuring the pressure exerted on said supporting means by said compressing mechanism as the tobacco stream undergoes compression.

11. In a cigarette making machine of the type making a continuous rod, a supporting means having a path along which a continuous stream of shredded cigarette tobacco is forwarded, la compressing member having a tapered surface coming into contact with the stream of tobacco to apply an increasing degree of compression to the tobacco stream going past said compressing member, a supporting means consisting of material having alow modulus` of elasticity for supporting said compressing member, and electrical resistance wire strain gage mechanism associated with said compressing member supporting means for indicating the" amount of pressure exerted on the tobacco stream by said compressing-member.

12. In a continuous rod cigarette making machine, a supporting means having a path along which a continuous stream of tobacco is forwarded, a cigarette rod forming tongue positioned above said path for exerting a gradually increasing degree of compression on said tobacco stream as it is forwarded along said path, and a magnetic strain gage positioned over the tip of the rod forming tongue under which the tobacco stream undergoes its maximum compression for indicating the amount of pressure on said tip by the tobacco being compressed thereunder.

13. In a cigarette making machine for forming a continuous stream of tobacco into a continuous cigarette rod, a rod forming tongue for compressing tobacco being forwarded in a continuous stream along and under the tongue, a stationary support, members having a low modulus of elasticity interconnecting said support and said rod forming tongue, and electrical resistance wire strain gage mechanism associated with said members for indicating the amount of force exerted by said rod forming tongue on said members in compressing a stream of tobacco passing under said tongue.

14. In a machine for forming a continuous stream of tobacco into a continuous cigarette rod, a rod forming tongue for compressing tobacco being forwarded in a continuous stream along and under the tongue; a stationary support; vertically extending lugs formed on said tongue; elongated exible members having a low modulus of elasticity connected between said support and said vertically extending lugs,

)said elongated members being mounted in a direction in which the and electrical resistance gages mounted on said elonposition parallel to the type wire strain gated iiexible members for registering the longitudinal strain exerted on said elongated flexible members by the tongue as it compresses tobacco being forwarded under said tongue.

15. In a machine for making cigarettes of the continuous rod type, a rod forming tongue for compressing tobacco being forwarded in a continuous stream along and under said tongue, a stationary support spaced vertically from said tongue, a mounting formed on said tongue, a member interconnecting said support and the mounting formed on said tongue and having a modulus of elasticity sufcient to reiiect the amount of strain exerted thereon on an electrical strain gage, and an electrical resistance wire strain gage associated with said member for registering the amount of force exerted on said member by said tongue as the tongue compresses the tobacco being forwarded in a continuous stream under said tongue.

16. In a cigarette making machine of the continuous rod type having a compressing device for compacting a continuous stream of tobacco as it isfed along said compressing device, means for supporting saidv compressing device, said means having a modulus of elasticity sufficient to reiiect on an electrical strain gage the amount of strainV exerted on said means by the stream of tobacco moving along said compressing device, and an electrical resistance wire strain gage associated with said means for measuring the amount of deflection of said means by said compressing device as it compacts the continuous stream of tobacco.

17. In a cigarette making machine, a frame- `work, a tape for supporting and forwarding a :stream :or

ing astream of `dicating apparatus comprising,

. goes compression.

'i 5 cigarette tobacco, :a second travelling tape :positioned ,above the 'first mentioned .tape

ifor :limiting `.the vertical -displaeement of lsaid 1to- `bacco stream, .tobacco :guide members positioned 'between said `tapes te `compress .said v,tobacco latwerally fas .it 'is :forwarded between said tapes, a

isupport extending ratxsubst'antially right angles .from said members and interconnected `,with said irameworhand an electrical,resistance'wire type strain fgage 'mounted on :said support ifor indi- `eating Ethe amount .of outward :force .being exerted Aen the tobacco guide members byfthe tobacco being compressed between saidtobacco guidemembers.

18. In a cigarette .making .machine `for :formcigarette tobacco into .a `cigarette rod, cigarette rod :condition measuring .and ina `member for lcompacting to`baccofas it is forwardedin 'a stream falong 4a predetermined path, an Aelectricalresistf I'ancewire strain gage, `anda support connecting fthe electrical resistance Wirestrain gage .to;said member for measuring the longitudinal stress exerted on said fmember 'in the direction it moves.

`by the tobacco stream 19. In a cigarette making machine for formfing -a stream `of cigarette tobacco into a ciga- `rette rod,'means for `forwarding :a stream of to- `bacco valong 'a predetermined path, anelongated tobacco streamas it tongue for compressing the is forwarded alongsaid predetermined path, a support forsaid tongue, and an electrical resistancevvire type straingage mechanism connected Ito said support to 'indicate the transverse .force exerted on said tongue 20. In a cigarette making machine for forming 'a stream of :cigarette tobacco into a `cigarette rod, means 'for compressing the Atobacco stream to klimit fits cross sectional area, a strain gage support extending transversely from said means andccnnected tosaid machine, active and dummy resistance wire type `strain gages mounted on said supportor indicating vthe strain exerted thereon, meansior joining the wires of said `gages `to -form the adiacent arms `of a Wheatstone bridge, and a recording unit connected to `the output side of saidWheatstonebridge to register the amount of force to which said compressing ymeans` is subjected.

21. Ina cigarette .making machine, means for forming astreamof tobacco `intera cigarette rod, guides coact-ing -withsaid means -for *reducing vthe travelling tobacco stream in cross section, a guide support extending mitvvardlyy from said guides travels, electrical resistance wire type strain gage mechanism connected at substantially right angles with -said means for registering the vamount of force exerted against said means by the tobacco stream, and an indicating device for indicating the forces so exerted,

23. In a cigarette making machine having means for forwarding a stream/of tobacco along a ipredeterrnined path, a tongueior reducing the cross sectional area fof the :tobacco `stream fas it by the tobacco as it underis `.forwarded along'ssaid 'predetermined :path of travel, and magnetic strain gage mechanism mounted `.directly :above and adjacent the :tip .tend of vthe tongue for registering the amount of pressure exerted against the tip of said tongue.

24. In a machine .for forming cigarettes from a streamof tobacco, a substantially rigid tobacco 4compressor for `compressing said stream of tobacco as itis forwarded along a predetermined path of travel, a member-spaced a'predetermined `distance 'from `said 'tobacco compressor touzallow an air gap between said member `and said `compressor, and a device for-:indicating any 'change in the distance `said member is spaced from said compressor.

25. In a cigarette `.making .machine .having means for forming cigarettes .from 1a cigarette rod, means for forwarding `a 'stream of itobacco along a predetermined pathof travel, mechanism for rreducing the cross sectional `area of said stream as itis `forwarded along said predetermined path of `traveL'a membersupporting said mechanism, an active :resistance-wire vtype strain `gage mounted on said member for recording the amount of stress exerted on said mechanismby the stream of tobacco `passing past 'said mechanism, a dummy resistance wire typestrain gage 4mounted .on said member, means for connecting Vsaid active and dummy gages to form the ad- -joining Varms Aof'a Wheatstone bridge, `and a recording 'device connected to said Wheatstone bridge to record Ithe .amount of stress 'exerted on said mechanism.

26. A machine for making cigarettes from a travelling stream of cigarette ltobacco compris- Jing, means for feeding cigarette tobacco to-iorm a stream of tobacco, `means for regulatingthe uantity of tobacco fed to form :said astream, vmeans for forwarding .said stream `of cigarette tobacco along .a .predetermined path of'tr-avel, a `rod `forming device for forming .said .stream 'into a tobacco .iiller rod as it iisforwarded along .'said predetermined Apath Aof travel, electrical :wire `.type strain gage mechanism-associated `with said rod forming -device to register the amount ref pressure exerted on said device by Asaidxtravelling tobacco filler rod, and vmeans interconnecting said strain gage device with lsaid regulating means vto control the quantity oftobaccofed.

27. In a machine vfor making a cigarette Arod .from a stream .of tobacco, mechanism lfor .forwarding a stream of `tobacco along `a Vpredetermined path of travel, a Vdevice for .reducing Sthe `cross sectional area of thetobacco streamasfit is `forwarded along. `said 'predetermined path of travel, and a vresistance wire type strain ygage associated -with said device fior measuring rrrthe amount of force applied atright angles to fthe direction of 'travel of vsaid stream byl said `device priorto its formation intoa cigarette rod.

28. In a machine for makingcigarettes from a stream of tobacco, a source `o'f-supply'of cigarette tobacco, means for forwarding va stream of tobacco from vsaid source'of supply along 1a predetermined path, meansfor regulating the Y'c mantity of tobacco forwarded from ysaid source `of supply, mechanism for compaeting said tobacco as litis forwarded along said predetermined path `of travel, an electricresistance wire strain-gage'device connected to said compacting mechanism for measuring the amount of 'force exerted by `said mechanism .on the tobacco beingcompacted, and means.interconnectinggthe strainigage device with .the :regulating .means to control .the lquantity -of tobacco fed from said souroelof supply.-

29. In a cigarette making machine for forming a stream of cigarette tobacco into a cigarette rod, cigarette rod condition measuring and indicating apparatus comprising, a member for compacting tobacco as it is forwarded in a stream along a predetermined path, and an electric resistance wire type strain gage associated with said member for indicating the force exerted transversely of the axis of the stream against said member by the stream being compressed thereby.

30. In a machine for making cigarettes from a stream of tobacco, a source of supply of cigarette tobacco, means for forwarding a stream of tobacco from said source of supply along a predetermined path, a -device for compressing and forming said stream into a cigarette rod, an electric resistance wire type strain gage associated with said device for measuring the amount of force exerted by said stream against said device as it is being compressed, and means connecting said electric strain gage to cigarette ejectng mechanism for ejecting defective cigarettes detected by said electric strain gage.

31. In a machine for making cigarettes from a stream of tobacco, a source of supply of cigarette tobacco; means for forwarding a stream of tobacco from said source of supply along a predetermined path; an elongated device positioned above said path to exert a gradually increasing amount of pressure on said stream as it passes under said device; a pair of members supporting said device so that a force exerted on said device results in a force being exerted on one of said members which is equal and opposite to the force being exerted on the other of said members; resistance wire type strain gages mounted on said members; means for joining said gage together to form the adjoining arms of a Wheatstone bridge; and an indicating device associated with said Wheatstone bridge for showing the amount of pressure being exerted on said elongated device by the stream of tobacco passing thereunder,

32. In a machine for making cigarettes from a stream of tobacco, a source of supply of cigarette tobacco, means for forwarding a stream of tobacco from said source of supply along a predetermined path, a device for compacting said tobacco as it is forwarded along said predetermined path of travel, a strain gage support connected to said device so that the amount of pressure exerted by the tobacco against said device will be transmitted to said strain gage support, an active resistance Wire type strain gage mounted on said support for measuring the amount of strain exerted on said device by the tobacco stream undergoing compression, a dummy resistance wire type strain gage mounted on said support for reflecting temperature changes in said support and a Wheatstone bridge wherein said resistance wire strain gage forms the adjoining arms thereof.

WILLIAM C`. BROEKHUYSEN. JAMES W. WARREN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 466,759 Thompson et al Jan. 5, 1892 512,150 Briggs Jan. 2, 1894 1,531,037 Smith Mar. 24, 1925 1,630,488 Di Ianni May 31, 1927 1,864,728 Hawkins et al June 28, 1932 2,163,415 Stephano June 20, 1939 2,190,032 Leary Feb. 13, 1940 2,242,011 Malmberg May 13, 1941 2,292,549 Simmons Aug. 11, 1942 2,322,319 Ruge June 22, 1943 2,357,860 Whitaker Sept. 12, 1944 2,399,342 Gibbons Apr. 30, 1946 2,487,681 Weisselberg Nov. 8, 1949 2,522,117 Holt Sept. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 313,673 Germany July 16, 1919 505,903 Great Britain May 19, 1939 506,883 Great Britain June 6, 1939 755,386 France Oct, 8, 1934 OTHER REFERENCES Journal, Society of Automotive Engineers.

September 1944, pages 393-400. 

